I think Clever's great, his shoulder charge was a bit unnecessary but I've seen a lot worse. He had another very impressive match in leading his side, and the tight five of the US was excellent. They seemed to struggle in the set piece against Ireland on the weekend but really put the Russians under huge pressure, particularly at the lineout. Bit surprised that the Russians chose not to start with Adam Byrnes, their only player with Super Rugby experience.

I think Clever's great, his shoulder charge was a bit unnecessary but I've seen a lot worse. He had another very impressive match in leading his side, and the tight five of the US was excellent. They seemed to struggle in the set piece against Ireland on the weekend but really put the Russians under huge pressure, particularly at the lineout. Bit surprised that the Russians chose not to start with Adam Byrnes, their only player with Super Rugby experience.

I think Clever's great, his shoulder charge was a bit unnecessary but I've seen a lot worse. He had another very impressive match in leading his side, and the tight five of the US was excellent. They seemed to struggle in the set piece against Ireland on the weekend but really put the Russians under huge pressure, particularly at the lineout. Bit surprised that the Russians chose not to start with Adam Byrnes, their only player with Super Rugby experience.

Hmm, spot the ringer.

I guess it's because he's a hooker and the Ruskies' captain is a rake too.

"The PFA does not represent players when they have broken the law and been convicted on non-football matters."- Gordon Taylor in 2009 following Marlon King's release after a prison sentence for sexual assault & ABH

Good suggestion in the Dom Post this morning. Take the teams that finish 3/4 in the group stages and let them have their own knock-out "Shield" competition. You've brought these smaller teams all the way over here, why not? Reckon you'd get a full house for a Shield final.

Would give the little teams a bit more to play for in the last couple of round robin games. 5th placed team goes home.

>>>>>>WHHOOOOOOOOOSHHHHHHH>>>>>>Fascist Dictator of the Heath Davis Appreciation SocietySupporting Petone's Finest since the very start - Iain O'Brien
Adam Wheater - Another batsman off the Essex production line
Also Supporting the All Time #1 Batsman of All Time Ever - Jacques Kallis and the much maligned Peter Siddle.

Good suggestion in the Dom Post this morning. Take the teams that finish 3/4 in the group stages and let them have their own knock-out "Shield" competition. You've brought these smaller teams all the way over here, why not? Reckon you'd get a full house for a Shield final.

Would give the little teams a bit more to play for in the last couple of round robin games. 5th placed team goes home.

Good suggestion in the Dom Post this morning. Take the teams that finish 3/4 in the group stages and let them have their own knock-out "Shield" competition. You've brought these smaller teams all the way over here, why not? Reckon you'd get a full house for a Shield final.

Would give the little teams a bit more to play for in the last couple of round robin games. 5th placed team goes home.

I quite like that idea. Even if you took just the teams that finished third in each pool and had them play off, it'd still raise some interest. Theres relatively large gaps between the knockout matches so you could schedule those matches in those gaps without any clashes.

Good suggestion in the Dom Post this morning. Take the teams that finish 3/4 in the group stages and let them have their own knock-out "Shield" competition. You've brought these smaller teams all the way over here, why not? Reckon you'd get a full house for a Shield final.

Would give the little teams a bit more to play for in the last couple of round robin games. 5th placed team goes home.

Two thumbs up

I got great enjoyment shouting "WHY THE **** ISN'T THIS GAME BEING PLAYED AT THE BASIN?!>!?!?" to reasonably significant cheers from the sparse crowd

one day NZ will bring chappell to his knees in a puddle of his own tears and you'll see Phlegm on his belly greedily tasting every delicious tear before watching the hope fade from that old ****s eyes.